Performance of a diesel engine in a dual fuel mode using producer gas for electricity power generation

Abstract

The paper presents the performance of a diesel engine coupled to a biomass gasifier in the dual fuel operation. The paper addresses a methodology and analysis towards choice of a diesel engine to meet the specific power requirement. Performance evaluation of both the engine and the gasification system is reported. Diesel savings in excess of 75% have been achieved. The specific fuel consumption is about 1 kg of biomass and 46 g of diesel per kilowatt hour of electricity, amounting to an overall efficiency of 22% in the dual fuel compared with 28% in the diesel engine operation. The overall energy balance indicates that the heat loss through the engine exhaust is high in the case of dual fuel mode of operation. The specific energy consumption is 17 MJ/kWh in the dual fuel mode. Engine exhaust emissions, CO and NO x , in diesel and dual fuel modes are compared.